The ruling BJP partner in the government Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) has plunged into the throes of leadership squabble with party two top brass NC Debbarma and Mevar Kumar Jamatia- both ministers- locking horns. The infighting culminated Thursday with Debbarma announcing removal of Jamatia from the position of the IPFT president. Both are at logger heads on the question of merger with another indigenous party TIPRA Motha which presently ruled the TTAADC. While Jamatia has been overtly espousing the cause of merger with the TIPRA Motha with whom he is reported to be very close, for the ‘greater benefit of the indigenous people, the party veteran Debbarma is seriously opposed to the idea.
Debbarma on Thursday in a press meet following the state level conference of the IPFT has announced that Jamatia was removed from the post of party president. A new president was elected in the extended state conference.
Debbarma has made it clear that IPFT is a recognized regional party and it will never merge with any other political party.
In an oblique reference to Jamatia Debbarma has claimed that ‘a section of the party’ was trying to create confusion.
“A section including some of the party leaders was trying to create confusion that IPFT would merge with another party. This is not true. We have a poll alliance with BJP and we will continue with it,” Debbarma has said adding that the ‘elements who were trying to create confusion have already been identified and disciplinary action will be initiated against them as per the party’s constitution.
For Jamatia, who was elected as IPFT president around one month ago, the decision has come as bolt from the blue and he has not spared anytime and in a hurriedly called press meet in the wake of the Debbarma’s press meet has threatened that he may move the court against the decision—his removal from the IPFT president’s post.
Jamatia said, everything was going smoothly in the party since he became the party president one month ago. But, the sudden decision by N.C. Debbarma is unfortunate.
If so required he has said, legal steps will be taken against the decision. However, at first the issue will be placed before the Advisory board of the party and senior citizens for discussion.
“We got divided after working together for around 14 years. People are shocked. I might have made mistakes but it’s time for correction,” he has told the reporters.
In the press conference, Jamatia also has highlighted a bipartite agreement signed between TIPRA and IPFT on November 25, last year.
Jamatia said, “as per the agreement, both the parties had agreed that after the Delhi Abhiyan they would initiate a process for unifying both the parties as one united political party. I was following the process only. The agreement was signed by N.C. Debbarma himself.”
